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FAU outfielder Colby Gratton is mobbed by his teammates after slugging a walk-off home run to lead off the ninth against FIU on Friday. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)

Colby Jack

Florida Atlantic junior outfielder Colby Gratton slugs a walk-off homer to leadoff the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Owls a 6-5 victory that has FAU on the brink of its first Sun Belt Conference championship.

Originally published on 5/21/2010

by Marcus Nelson

> Video: Gratton blast powers FAU to win
> Post-game audio: McCormack / Gratton
> Boxscore: The game by the numbers
> Sun Belt Conference: Latest standings
> Blue Wave Board: Talk about FIU-FAU here

BOCA RATON – FAU outfielder Colby Gratton didn’t start Friday’s game against Florida International.

He sure brought it to an end in a big way.

Gratton’s walk-off homer to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Owls a 6-5 victory and has the FAU a victory away from winning the Sun Belt Conference championship.

“I really thought it was a fly ball, but then I saw (leftfielder Yoandy Barroso) backing up to the fence and I thought this thing has a chance” said Gratton who entered the game in the sixth inning. “I saw my team and I thought this was the greatest feeling ever.”

Gratton hit a Corey Pollizanno 2-0 fastball just over the left-centerfield wall to give the Owls the dramatic victory. It was his third homer in the last two games.

“I didn’t think it was getting out and I didn’t think he got enough of it, but thank God he did,” FAU coach John McCormack said.

The loss eliminated the Golden Panthers from the Sun Belt title race and has the Owls one step away from a chanpionship.

The Owls (32-20, 20-9) looked like they were on the way to an easy victory earlier in the game.

Although starter Mike Gipson didn’t have his best outing, walking a season-high seven batters, he was effective enough to keep FIU (31-21, 17-12) in check as the Owls built a 5-1 lead.

But in the eighth Gipson was lifted after he gave up a 2-RBI double to Pablo Bermudez. The normally dependable Ryan Bernal also was charged with a run as the Golden Panthers tied the game at 5.

Gratton was put into the game because he has excelled at hitting lefthanders and knew he would get a chance to get into the game when Polizzano, his high school teammate at Miami Southridge High School, took the mound for the Panthers.

"I played with him in high school and I am good friends with him" Gratton said. "I was hoping they wouldn't bring in the closer."

Louisiana-Lafayette won both its games Friday, so the Owls will need to defeat the Golden Panthers on Saturday or have to hope Louisiana-Monroe defeats the Ragin’ Cajuns later that night.

But the Owls want to take care of business and win vs. FIU to capture their first Sun Belt Conference championship.

“If we just win, we don’t have to worry about the other teams,” Gratton said. “We’re going to come out tomorrow and win and not have to worry about it.”

GameBrowser: Florida Atlantic 6, Florida International 5

Moving forward: Ryan Bernal improved to 6-2 on the season, not bad for a middle reliever. …3B Sean Bukovich was 2-for-4 with a 2-RBI double. …DH Eddie Cassidy was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI
Moving backward: 1B Dan Scheffler was 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.
Stat Download: FIU’s Garrett Wittels extended his hitting streak to 47 games with a single in the third inning, tying Wichita State's Phil Stephenson for the second longest in NCAA history.
Up Next: FAU and FIU play the final game of the three-game series at 1 p.m. Saturday. If the Owls win, they win the Sun Belt title, If they lose, they can still win the championship if ULM defeats ULL. It will be Senior Day for P Ryan Bernal, OF Anthony Mesa, P Barry Rooks, P Lou Morey and P Kenny Gray.

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FIU’s Garett Wittels is hit by pitch on his first at bat…FIU 0, FAU 0 Top 1
Panthers threaten but Alfonso is thrown out at plate…FIU 0, FAU 0 Mid 1
Gipson walks bases loaded, but gets out of jam…FIU 0, FAO 0 Bot 2
Wittels extends hitting streak to 47 games, ties Wichita State’s Phil Stephenson who did it in 1981 for second longest in NCAA history. Robin Ventura leads with 58…FIU 0, FAU 0 Top 3
Barroso hits a line drive double to center to bring in Wittels…FIU 1, FAU 0 Top 3
Cassidy RBI single and then DelGuidice 2-RBI double down line in left...FAU 2, FIU 1 Bot 4
Bukovich makes it back-to-back doubles and brings in 2 more…FAU 4, FIU 1 Bot 4
Albaladejo makes an alert play to steal third and scores on Cassidy’s sac fly to right…FAU 5, FIU 1 Bot 5
FAU will face FIU relievers from here on out. Pollizzano in for Rembisz (5ip 6h 5r 5er 3bb 6so)…
Bermudez slaps 2-RBI double to center and Bernal comes in for Gipson…FAU 5, FIU 3 Top 8
Facing his former team, Bernal strikes out first batter he faces, but gives up RBI single to Wittels…FAU 5, FIU 4 Top 8
Close book on Gipson (7.1ip 7h 4r 4er 7bb 5so)…FAU 5, FIU 4 Top 8
Usually reliable Bernal struggles and Panthers as get four to tie game…FAU 5, FIU 5 Mid 8
It’s going to the bottom of the 9^th tied…FAU 5, FIU 5 Mid 9
FAU 6, FIU 5 FINAL: Gratton hits walk-off HR on a 2-0 count to deep left-center. Cleared the fence by inches. His 3^rd HR in last two nights.